Prof. Cotter Quoted in Star Tribune on Google and Antitrust Laws

Professor Tom Cotter was quoted in a Star Tribune article entitled "Google's Search Formula Faces Scrutiny." The article discusses Google CEO Eric Schmidt's upcoming appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee's Antitrust Subcommittee and the FTC's investigation of allegations that the company manipulates its search algorithms to favor Google's own content. Cotter stated that, as a general matter, Google is not obligated to reveal to competitors the periodic changes it makes to its trade secret search algorithm and that Google does not violate the antitrust laws merely by possessing monopoly power. Rather, to prevail on antitrust claim, the government would have to prove that Google's "business practices serve primarily to downgrade competitors and mislead consumers."